Quick and dirty fork oil change. - SV650.org

aesmith · 05-08-13, 08:10 AM

Hi,

I've been putting this off until I could face all the dismantling, but yesterday decided to do it without. I suspended the bike with a strap under the top yoke, took the caps out from the top of the forks, then lowered it right down so the forks were fully compressed. With the springs, spacers etc taken out I was able to get the tube on my oil extractor (aka sooker) right to the bottom to suck out the existing oil.

It was a surprise to find progressive springs, I thought the bike was standard but now I have no real idea what's actually fitted. I also noticed that the ends of the spacers aren't quite at 90 degrees, making me wonder if they've been cut down too.

I went for 10W oil, guessing that the progressive springs would need something slightly thicker than recommended for standard, and so far it feels about right.

Tony S

rictus01 · 05-08-13, 08:33 AM

unfortunately you will have left a fair amount of the sludge in there, this is a combination of the oil break down as well as worn metal particals, better than not doing it, but not the best way.

aesmith · 05-08-13, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rictus01

.. better than not doing it, but not the best way.

That was my reasoning. For what it's worth there didn't seem to be any contamination sucked out with the oil from the very bottom, of course this could be because it's too solid to be sucked out, or because my tube didn't get right down there.

05-08-13, 08:59 AM

I could be wrong but I think the standard springs have a different rate at one end so may appear progressive. Are you certain yours are aftermarket?

aesmith · 05-08-13, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkid

I could be wrong but I think the standard springs have a different rate at one end so may appear progressive. Are you certain yours are aftermarket?

Not certain, this is what the two different ends look like ..

05-08-13, 09:23 AM

I have a feeling mine were the same when I removed them from my sv before the ktech linears went in. I don't have a pic but someone else may confirm these are stock springs?

yorkie_chris · 05-08-13, 01:37 PM

could be stock, quite possibly. pointy ones are progressive

aesmith · 05-08-13, 02:45 PM

Cheers. Yes, faired Pointy. Looking at the manual more closely, I thought it was saying that the standard spring has a smaller diameter at one end, which mine doesn't. Now I see that doesn't apply to faired bikes which have a progressive wind instead.

I would have expected the tighter coils to be at the top. Is there any special reason Suzuki put them the other way round?

05-08-13, 08:10 AM	#1
aesmith Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 966	Quick and dirty fork oil change. Hi, I've been putting this off until I could face all the dismantling, but yesterday decided to do it without. I suspended the bike with a strap under the top yoke, took the caps out from the top of the forks, then lowered it right down so the forks were fully compressed. With the springs, spacers etc taken out I was able to get the tube on my oil extractor (aka sooker) right to the bottom to suck out the existing oil. It was a surprise to find progressive springs, I thought the bike was standard but now I have no real idea what's actually fitted. I also noticed that the ends of the spacers aren't quite at 90 degrees, making me wonder if they've been cut down too. I went for 10W oil, guessing that the progressive springs would need something slightly thicker than recommended for standard, and so far it feels about right. Tony S

05-08-13, 08:33 AM	#2
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: Quick and dirty fork oil change unfortunately you will have left a fair amount of the sludge in there, this is a combination of the oil break down as well as worn metal particals, better than not doing it, but not the best way. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

05-08-13, 08:59 AM	#4
dkid Guest Posts: n/a	Quick and dirty fork oil change I could be wrong but I think the standard springs have a different rate at one end so may appear progressive. Are you certain yours are aftermarket?

05-08-13, 09:23 AM	#6
dkid Guest Posts: n/a	Quick and dirty fork oil change I have a feeling mine were the same when I removed them from my sv before the ktech linears went in. I don't have a pic but someone else may confirm these are stock springs? Last edited by dkid; 05-08-13 at 09:24 AM.

05-08-13, 01:37 PM	#7
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Quick and dirty fork oil change could be stock, quite possibly. pointy ones are progressive __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

05-08-13, 02:45 PM	#8
aesmith Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 966	Re: Quick and dirty fork oil change Cheers. Yes, faired Pointy. Looking at the manual more closely, I thought it was saying that the standard spring has a smaller diameter at one end, which mine doesn't. Now I see that doesn't apply to faired bikes which have a progressive wind instead. I would have expected the tighter coils to be at the top. Is there any special reason Suzuki put them the other way round?

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